DCP (traffic) MM Anarwala added that they hoped the drive would draw the attention of parents and school principals to the unsafe manner in which many schoolchildren were ferried to school. “Parents and principals ought to pay more attention to the children’s safety,” he said.

The traffic department has constituted a 30-member task force under one PI to enforce traffic rules in the city. The task force has been active in different parts of Ahmedabad to check violation of traffic rules.

The president of School Vans Union of Ahmedabad, Dharamendra Bhrambhatt, said they had met traffic police officials and asked them to give them time till the end of this academic year, to make arrangements for safe ferrying of schoolchildren. “Right now, exams are going on in all schools,” he said.

Another member of the union, Vrushabh Kalal, said that, despite their request, the traffic police had acted against overloaded vehicles and caused much inconvenience not only to the children but also to their parents.

“If the police continue with the campaign tomorrow, we will go on a strike,” Kalal said.

Sudhir Nanavati, managing trustee of Gujarat Law Society, said the police should have launched the campaign much earlier.

“I have seen school vans carrying 23 students, when the rules allow for only 14 students,” he said. “Overcrowding can cause suffocation in vans.”

He said the police should check school vans regularly to ensure that they are not overloaded. “The van and auto-rickshaw drivers are interested only in profits,” said Shobha Tyagi, a parent. “They have no respect for rules.” She added that, to some extent, even parents are responsible for the sorry state of affairs.

On the other hand, Kamlesh Barot, another parent whose two children had to get out of their overloaded vehicle, said she didn’t know what to do. “I can’t afford the school buses because they are expensive,” she said. “If the van owners are forced to follow traffic rules in this matter, they will charge more from parents. Many of us can’t pay higher charges.”

Meanwhile, the traffic police have also launched a campaign against flouting of traffic rules by other vehicles.

Despite a request by van owners the traffic police had acted against overloaded vehicles & caused inconvenience  to the children

Ritesh Shah/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication